"Components for fly rods of highest distinction."
For decades, Struble had been a formidable presence in the contemporary history of rod building. Struble's classic, American-designed fly reel seats set the gold standard of components until 2012 and used by individual builders and fly rod manufacturers alike. You'll find Struble reel seats on early Sage and older Fenwick rods; Tom Morgan chose Struble to manufacture seats for both Winston and TMR.
The history of the Glenn Struble Manufacturing Company stretches back to 1974 when Glenn Struble, a mechanical engineer with a love for fly fishing and commitment to excellence, grew dissatisfied with the typical offerings for reel seats and began designing his own. Struble’s designs and quality quickly became the industry standard around the globe. The business was first housed in Glenn’s garage at his home in Roseburg, Oregon but quickly grew and eventually moved into a 25,000sf facility in Sutherlin, Oregon.
Glenn Struble passed away in 1993, leaving a rich legacy of reel seat design, quality, and performance. Glenn’s wife, Juanita, continued the company’s proud history of producing precision fly fishing components until 2005 when the company was purchased by Jeffrey Pentecost, a Montana native with a love for fly fishing and a passion for innovation. Sadly, Juanita Struble passed away in 2023
Under Jeffrey's leadership, Struble began manufacturing unique agate stripping guides for fly rods after acquiring the equipment and business from Mike McCoy of Snake Brand. In addition to premium agate guides, grips, and winding checks, Struble manufactured reel seats until 2012. At this time, market influences and exogenous decisions of companies regarding suppliers forced Struble to mainly focus on agate guide production.
In 2020, at the height of the Pandemic, two lifelong friends-- Steve and John--seized the opportuity to acquire Struble, which was in process of shutting down for good. Not knowing a thing about the manufacture of agate guides, but remembering fondly Struble's reel seats (Steve used Struble seats as far back as 1987), they determined to give reviving the Titan a shot, learning the basics of making guides from Jeffrey with a longer-range goal of reproducing the reel seats which had been too long missing from the market.
What was left of Struble in 2020 when Steve and John went to claim the equipment and old stock was warehoused in a 10x8 storage unit. They moved the equipment to Montana and began learning the craft of making agate stripping guides. Like most things demanding precision, the learning curve was fairly steep and the improvements, while continual and on-going, have been painstakingly slow.
In late 2020, the first Struble reel seats under John and Steve's ownership were offered. Again, this was a costly learning experience on many levels. In late 2023- Early 2024, the Model 20 and 24 reel seats were fully reintroduced with the help of a manufacturing partner to enough success that other models have since been resurrected and more are coming.
In 2023, Steve and John were joined by Jeremy when Struble and Trout Smiths Fly Rods and Blanks effectively merged. And, like in the beginning when Glann Struble began manufacturing in his garage, today, Struble/Trout Smiths is based out of Steve's garage in Colorado with some work done by John in Montana.
US
Trout Smiths/Struble is John, Jeremy, and Steve...Steve's wife, Cheryl, is the Ship Boss when she's not in the garden or on strike because Steve has the shop is too cluttered for normal people to work.
Everyone at TS/Struble is otherwise employed (this is good to keep in mind if you are in a hurry). Jeremy is a Contractor in Bozeman; John is retired Military and Yellowstone County Sheriff's Deputy and, now, Bagel Store owner in Billings, and Steve is pastor of a church in Canon City, CO.
Steve has known John since they were kids in Lincoln, Nebraska. Jeremy and Steve know each other from when Steve pastored a church in Bozeman for 25 years where Jeremy was (and is) part of the church's leadership.
TS/Struble is an enterprise among lifelong or near-lifelong friends. And that's how we approach what we do: We consider people who support us, friends and treat them as such.
LASTLY
Fishing is fun, and Lord knows more fun is desperately needed in this world. What we do, we do for the love of fly rods and the fun they represent. Which means we really appreciate beautiful rods with stunning components but we also know in the end, as Steve's dad said, they'll be covered in wet or crusty fish slime.
We build fly rods and components out of love. We make and supply them to be fished.
Questions or comments? Visit our contact page and we'll get back to you promptly.